Montreal police arrested six people in connection with a series of online threats directed at schools in the greater Montreal area.
The individuals are all students between the ages of 13 and 17.
Monday’s arrests come after the Montreal Police cyber unit conducted an extensive online investigation over the weekend.
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According to Manuel Couture, a SPVM spokesman, the investigation was launched after a series of worrying online threats against schools and officials began circulating on social media platforms last week.
“It started when the teacher was stabbed on Thursday. After that, we started to have more and more threats. We had a shutdown the next day, on the eastern edge of Montreal, and they closed the school, ”Couture said.
“After that, the trend exploded.”
Montreal police officials believe the online trend started among students after the media reported the stabbing of a teacher at a Montreal high school on Thursday.
The assault took place at John F. Kennedy High School. The incident caused a temporary shutdown.
Classes at John F. Kennedy High School were canceled on Friday and will only resume on Tuesday.
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Since the incident, schools in the greater Montreal area have been alarmed by an increase in threats from online forums.
Officials at Louis-Philippe-Paré High School were forced to close its doors Monday morning after receiving a “serious” threat online, according to a letter sent to parents.
Cavelier-De LaSalle High School students encountered an increased police presence on the school grounds after the school displayed threatening words online.
The school decided to stay open on the recommendation of the Montreal police.
Some parents who were leaving their children refused on Monday morning, not feeling that the police presence was adequate.
“The police are outside and do not enter the school. I don’t feel like my son is safe at school today. They don’t know what could happen, ”Simona Daba said Monday.
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Police say alarming posts are generally found on “confession” platforms and are written with anonymous names.
Montreal police are stressing the seriousness of the act.
Couture said that any and all threats, regardless of intent, brought to the attention of police are treated as if they were real.
Officials are also issuing a warning to potential violators.
Despite being hidden behind an alias and a keyboard, police say they have methods to trace and find the source of the comments.
“You may think you are anonymous because your name is not on the post, but we can track you down and arrest you even if you think it is confidential,” Couture said.
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